ARTIFICIAL CARTILAGE CAPABLE OF SUPPLEMENTING JOINT-ELECTRICITY

Abstract

An artificial cartilage was invented based on JOINT-ELECTRICITY THEORY that first in the world created in 2010, and verified in 2011, both by the present inventor, Sue-May Kang. The said artificial cartilage has sleek joint-surface and individualized appropriate shape, is made of proper piezoelectric material, and to be placed into the indication-joints, including at least the natural joints with lack or defect in cartilage and artificial joints, those suffering from impairment in generating Joint-Electricity. After surgical placement (yet, any surgery is not included in the present invention), it can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range, and thus, continuously generate intra-articular electricity (is the so-called Joint-Electricity), and consequently supplements the wanted Joint-Electricity to the said joint and its related muscles. Using the said artificial cartilage can remarkably reduce the pains, increase muscular strength, and improve motor functions, when comparing to that without.

Claims

1. The present invention is an artificial cartilage capable of supplementing Joint-Electricity, the said Joint-Electricity is defined in the intra-articular electricity that generated by the joint-cartilage, and is required by the joint-structure tissues of the said joint and its related muscles for maintaining their normal state, the said artificial cartilage of the present invention has the indication-joints including artificial joints and the natural joints those with lack or defect in cartilage, the human joints those suffering from impairment in generating Joint-Electricity, the said artificial cartilage has a sleek joint-surface and individualized appropriate shape, and is made of the proper piezoelectric material, wherein, the said proper piezoelectric material is defined in the material with the properties of biocompatibility and the piezoelectricity that with a large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity, which is defined in that it can make the said artificial cartilage to have large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity that at least larger than the estimated range of the dynamic force within the target individual indication-joint after the implanting proper surgery, yet, any surgery is not included in the present invention.

2. The artificial cartilage of claim 1, wherein, the said artificial cartilage has individualized appropriate shape, which is obtained through the methods including designing it according to the individualized original healthy cartilage of the said indication-joint, or according to the joint-surface of the target artificial joint, further, for solving the individual problem related to the defect or lack in the cartilage of the indication-joint, the said methods include at least according to the complementary shape of the residual cartilage.

3. The artificial cartilage of claim 1, if necessary, the said artificial cartilage of the present invention can also include supporting fibers, the making method can be, first, making the said piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage into the said supporting fibers, which, then, with enough amount, are made into the said artificial cartilage.

4. The artificial cartilage of claim 1, wherein, the sleek joint-surface of the said artificial cartilage can be achieved through the methods including the following, besides the general smoothing processes, it can also be achieved through applying the nanostructurizing process to some of the material that same to that of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, and then, that after nanostructurizing is coated onto the joint-surface of the said artificial cartilage, or, applying the said nanostructurizing process to enough amount of the material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, and then, that after nanostructurizing is made into the said artificial cartilage.

5. The artificial cartilage of claim 3, wherein, the sleek joint-surface of the said artificial cartilage can be achieved through the following methods, which include, at least, first, making the said supporting fibers in the diameter that as small as possible (the smallest diameter that the related industry instantly can make), which, then, with enough amount, are made into the said artificial cartilage of the present invention.

6. The artificial cartilage of claim 1, wherein the said artificial cartilage, not only can be placed and secured into the artificial joint during the implanting surgery for the said artificial joint, but also can be placed and secured into the site corresponding to the joint-surface of the artificial joint before the said implanting surgery through the methods including adhesive bonding the said artificial cartilage of the present invention to the target site of the said artificial joint, coating the material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention on the said site of the said artificial joint in the shape of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, and other methods.

7. The artificial cartilage of claim 3, wherein, the said artificial cartilage, not only can be placed and secured into the artificial joint during the implanting surgery for the said artificial joint, but also can be placed and secured into the site corresponding to the joint-surface of the artificial joint before the said implanting surgery through the methods including adhesive bonding the said artificial cartilage of the present invention to the target site of the said artificial joint, and other methods excluding coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 This diagram schematically shows the side view of an example of human natural joints that when its cartilage C1, and, C2, healthily staying at the end of the bone G1, and, G2, respectively, inside the said joint.

[0017] FIG. 2 This diagram schematically shows the side view of one of the embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention that to be placed in the indication-joint that shown in FIG. 1 when C1 in the FIG. 1 requires to be totally replaced. Wherein, 1 denotes the said artificial cartilage.

[0018] FIG. 3 This diagram schematically shows the side view of another embodiment of the artificial cartilage of the present invention that to be placed in the indication-joint that shown in FIG. 1 when C1 in the FIG. 1 requires to be repaired by the said artificial cartilage. Wherein, 1A denotes the said artificial cartilage.

[0019] FIG. 4 This diagram schematically shows the side view of another embodiment of the artificial cartilage of the present invention (that has included supporting fibers those made of piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention) that can be the option of that shown in FIG. 2. Wherein, 21 schematically denotes the said supporting fibers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST BASIC RELATIONSHIP between JOINT-ELECTRICITY THEORY and the technical means of the artificial cartilage of the present invention. The present invention is an artificial cartilage capable of generating Joint-Electricity, and consequent getting the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity. The artificial cartilage of the present invention is invented based on JOINT-ELECTRICITY THEORY that created in 2010, and verified in 2011, both by the present inventor, Sue-May Kang. The most basic relationship between the artificial cartilage of the present invention and the said theory includes at least the following. (1). Natural joint can generate intra-articular electricity (is the called Joint-Electricity), and this is due to joint-cartilage has the property of piezoelectricity, and can be constantly subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint. Further, joint can continuously generate Joint-Electricity, when the said cartilage can be constantly subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range. So that, the artificial cartilage of the present invention is specially created to be made of piezoelectric material, especially of a proper piezoelectric material that has large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity in order to ensure the said artificial cartilage, after being implanted into the target indication-joint by a proper surgery (yet, any surgery is excluded from the present invention), can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range, and consequently, alike a natural healthy joint-cartilage does, continuously generates Joint-Electricity that achieves the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the joint-structure tissues of the said joint and its related muscles. Thereby, the artificial cartilage of the present invention has the indication-joints including artificial joints (they develop till now, are still lack of artificial cartilage) and the natural joints those with lack or defect in cartilage, those have impairment in continuously generating Joint-Electricity. (2). Base on the said JOINT-ELECTRICITY THEORY, the Joint-Electricity that generated by normal natural cartilage has the function of nurturing its neighboring tissues, including at least the joint-structure tissues (e.g. joint-cartilage, ligament, and tendons) and its related muscles (those connecting to the said tendons and those overlapping the said joint). The said nurturing means that the said Joint-Electricity has been accepted by the said tissues, and if the amount of the said Joint-Electricity is enough, the length and tension of the said tissues are maintained, the muscles are gotten ready for the contraction that to perform, so that the muscle strength and voluntary motion ability are kept normal, under the nervous system is intact. On the contrary, when the Joint-Electricity generated from the natural cartilage is not enough due to any reason for a long enough period, the said nurturing effect would be hindered, and consequent the shortening or tension-altering of the said tissues, pains, decreasing muscular strength and voluntary motion abilities, and impaired functional motor functions. So that, when the lengths of the said tissues have been shorten before the surgery and without correction during the said surgery, they cannot be recovered its length, or, normalized immediately with the usage of the present invention in the said surgery. This is due to that the said artificial cartilage still cannot in its every part be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range, which hinders the said artificial cartilage to continuously generate an adequate amount of Joint-Electricity, and consequent the hindering on the said nurturing effect. Therefore, the proper surgery that has been briefly described its content in [0004]-(8) is required, not only for recovering the normal structure (or normal condition) of the said joint, but also for the said artificial cartilage to immediately continuously generate Joint-Electricity, which, in turn, is required for immediately and long term keeping the afterwards-health of the said joint (keeping the normal joint-structure after the said implanting). The said proper surgery is similarly important for all the operations related to joint. It is thought that any kind of artificial cartilage has been implanted by the said proper surgery. This, thus, is the basis of comparing the effects of the usage of the different types of artificial cartilage in the text of the present application. So that, the content of the said proper surgery is not repeatedly described in the following text, further, any surgery is excluded from the present invention. Thereby, the individualized and correct shape of the artificial cartilage is also required for ensuring it does not hinder the correct joint structure (including correct alignment) that obtained by the said proper surgery. This is for ensuring every part of it can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range in order to contributing to continuously generate Joint-Electricity for supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the joint-structure tissues of the said joint and its related muscles. The main characteristics of the artificial cartilage of the present invention those stated above contributes to the advanced effects of the usage of the artificial cartilage of the present invention, comparing to that without, include at least remarkably reducing pains, increasing muscular strength and voluntary motion abilities, promoting motor functions, and keeping the health of the said artificial cartilage and the said joint (including the artificial joint). The following paragraphs show some of the embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention.

[0021] The present invention, based on the JOINT-ELECTRICITY THEORY that created by the present inventor, Sue-May Kang, provides an artificial cartilage capable of generating Joint-Electricity, and thus, getting the effect of supplementing Joint-Electricity to its neighboring tissues. In its embodiments, it has sleek joint-surface, an individualized appropriate shape, and to be placed into the indication-joint (the natural human joint that with defect or lack in cartilage, or, artificial joint) so as to be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint, and continuously deformed by the said dynamic force that generating intra-articular electricity (is the so-called Joint-Electricity). The said be placed into the said indication-joints is by the methods including surgically implanting to either the said natural joint, or the said artificial joint, and non-surgically placing to the said artificial joint in previous of the implanting surgery of the artificial joint, and afterwards are surgically implanted together with the said artificial joint. Yet, any surgery is excluded from the scope of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the artificial cartilage of the present invention is made of the piezoelectric material that defined in the proper material that with the property of piezoelectricity. Wherein, the said piezoelectric material of the artificial cartilage can also demonstrate piezoelectricity effect within the indication-joint after placing surgery (yet, the all surgeries are excluded from the present invention). Please note that the term piezoelectricity effect as used herein refers to direct piezoelectricity effect, meaning that when it is deformed by the dynamic force, the mechanical energy is converted into electric energy. Therefore, after the said artificial cartilage of the present invention has been placed into the target indication-joint by a proper surgery (which has been described in [0004]-(8), and is excluded from the present invention), the said artificial cartilage can be deformed at subjecting to the normal dynamic force within the said joint, and generates intra-articular electricity (is the so-called Joint-Electricity) through the said piezoelectricity effect of the said artificial cartilage. Thereby, it achieves the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the neighboring tissues of the said artificial cartilage that increases the nurturing of the said tissues. Comparing to that without using the artificial cartilage of the present invention, usage of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention can increase the muscular strength, decrease the pains, and improve the voluntary motor ability. Besides, the said piezoelectric material of the artificial cartilage of the present invention is also highly biocompatible, meaning that the said material will not be rejected by, or, harm, the human body it is placed into, (however, the placing surgery is excluded from the present invention).

[0022] The artificial cartilage of the present invention, in another embodiment, if necessary, is characterized in made of a proper piezoelectric material. The said proper piezoelectric material is defined in that the material that has a proper range of piezoelectric reactivity that can make the said artificial cartilage have a proper range of piezoelectric reactivity. The said proper range of piezoelectric reactivity of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention means that it is not only with the direct piezoelectricity property, but also has a large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity, which at least larger than the estimated range of the dynamic force within the said indication-joint of the indication-subject (after the proper surgery that implanting it into the said indication-joint, yet the said surgery is not included in the present invention). The said property of large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention ensures the said artificial cartilage can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said indication-joint in its effective range, and consequently, can, alike the natural normal cartilage in a normal joint does, continuously generate Joint-Electricity (after placing it into the said indication-joint by the proper surgery, which is not included in the present invention). The generated Joint-Electricity, thus, is alike that generated by the normal natural cartilage, can full time and increasedly nurture the joint-structure-tissues of the said joint and its related muscles, obtaining the goal of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the said tissues. Thus, using the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, comparing to those without using the present invention, can remarkably reduce the pains, increase the muscular strength and voluntary motion ability, and remarkably improve the voluntary motor functions and longer sustain the use life of both the said artificial cartilage of the present invention and the joint using it (including artificial joint). Besides, the said proper piezoelectric material of the artificial cartilage of the present invention is also highly biocompatible, meaning that the said material will not be rejected by, or, harm, the human body it is placed into. (however, the placing surgery is excluded from the present invention).

[0023] Further, the shape of the artificial cartilage of the present invention can be individualized designed to be appropriate according to the clinical requirement of the individual target indication-joint. For example, in one of the embodiments of the present invention, (see FIG. 1, which denotes an example of a natural joint with cartilage C1 and C2 inside, and FIG. 2, which denotes the artificial cartilage of the present invention designed for replacing the cartilage C1 in the said joint in FIG. 1), when the cartilage C1 in the FIG. 1 is the cartilage in the indication-joint and is that to be totally replaced, the shape of the artificial cartilage of the present invention (1 in the FIG. 2) that designed for replacing it can be designed with methods including imitating the shape of the original healthy cartilage as that shown in C1 in FIG. 1. That is, the shape of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention in FIG. 2 can be same to that of C1 in FIG. 1. Similarly, in the embodiment that the said artificial cartilage is to be placed into an artificial joint, it's shape is designed individualized and appropriate with the methods at least include according to the shape of the joint-surface of the said artificial joint. But, if necessary, as in another embodiment of the artificial cartilage of the present invention, when the cartilage C1 has been only partially damaged and requires to be repaired by the artificial cartilage of the present invention, which shape could be individually designed to be appropriate according to the problem related to the defect or lack in the cartilage of the indication-joint, the designing methods include according to the complementary shape of the residual cartilage in the target indication-joint that forms the said artificial cartilage in the shape as shown in 1A in FIG. 3. The said artificial cartilage 1A (in FIG. 3) in this embodiment of the present invention can be placed and secured to the residual part of the damaged cartilage and corresponding bony part of the articular-surface of the bone end in the said indication-joint to become the healed-cartilage that with complete and correct shape that same to the shape of its original healthy cartilage as shown in C1 in FIG. 1. Yet, the said placing and securing process is part of the surgical processes, which are all excluded from the present invention. Nevertheless, the complete and correct shape of the said healed-cartilage (that contributed by the present invention including that in full shape, or, that in partial and complementary shape, or, . . . ) contributes to ensuring that it does not disturb the optimal joint space or correct alignment of the joint structure that contributed by the said proper surgery (yet, which is not included in the present invention). Thus, the said individualized appropriate shape of the said artificial cartilage allows every part of the said artificial cartilage during the motions in every direction can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in correct direction (that contributed by the said proper surgery), in addition to, effective range in amount (that contributed by both the said proper surgery and the special property of the material that the artificial cartilage of the present invention made of)(see [0004], for its reasoning). Thereby, the said artificial cartilage can continuously generate Joint-Electricity to achieve the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the joint-structure tissues of the said indication-joint and its related muscles. Yet, any surgery is excluded from the present invention.

[0024] Further, the artificial cartilage of the present invention, in another embodiment, if necessary, can be made of the proper material of supporting fibers, in addition to the said piezoelectric material. Wherein, the said supporting fibers have the property of proper flexibility that allows them to be deformed with the deforming of the said artificial cartilage at reacting to the dynamic force within the indication-joint. The making method can be, first, making the said piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention into the said fibers, which, then, with enough amount, are made into the said artificial cartilage of the present invention in the shape according to the individualized shape of the artificial cartilage of the target indication-joint of the target subject (as shown in 1 in FIG. 2), to make the said artificial cartilage in the shape and size as that expected to be, and become that illustrated schematically in 2 of FIG. 4, yet, the arrangement or organization of the said supporting fibers is not limited to that shown as 21 in the FIG. 4).

[0025] The artificial cartilage of the present invention is provided with its joint-surface in sleek, wherein, for the embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention those excluding those stated in [0024] (those have included supporting fibers those made of the piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention), the methods those used for making the joint-surface sleek include the following. For example, using the common surface smoothing techniques, or, applying a nanostructurizing process to some of the material same to that of the said artificial cartilage, then that after nanostructurizing is coated onto the said joint-surface of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, or, applying the nanostructurizing process to enough amount of the material of the said artificial cartilage of the embodiments of the present invention, then that after nanostructurizing is made into the said artificial cartilage. This is for the purpose of having the artificial cartilage of the said embodiments of the present invention to have a sleek joint-surface same to the natural healthy cartilage for minimizing the possible mechanical friction, and consequently is not prone to be worn-out or broken, in order to be long term used after surgically placing it into the indication-joint. However, any surgery is not included in the present invention.

[0026] The artificial cartilage of the present invention is provided with its joint-surface in sleek, wherein, for the embodiments those stated in [0024] those have included supporting fibers those made of the piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, the methods those used for making the joint-surface sleek include at least, first, manufacturing the said fibers with the said material of the artificial cartilage of the present invention with its diameter as small as possible (as small as the instant industrial can make), and then, making the said small-diameter fibers to form the said artificial cartilage of the present invention in the shape appropriate to the target artificial cartilage of the present invention for the target indication-joint. This is for the purpose of having the said embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention to be with sleek joint-surface same to the natural healthy cartilage for minimizing the possible mechanical friction, and consequently is not prone to be worn-out or broken, in order to be long term used after placing it into the indication-joint. However, the surgery for placing the present invention into the said indication-natural-joint, and/or indication-subject is not included in the scope of the present invention).

[0027] The so-called human joints those included in the said indication-joints include the joints those of movable (or, called diarthrosis), slightly movable (or, called amphiarthrosis), and non-movable (or, called synarthrosis). The said non-movable joints in the said indication-joints are those for growing needs, such as fonticulus anterior and fonticulus posterior of a child.

[0028] The embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention include that the said artificial cartilage of the present invention can be placed into an artificial joint (either during the implanting surgery of the said artificial joint, or, in previous of the said implanting surgery and afterwards, together with the said artificial joint, being implanted into the target indication-subject) in order to make the said artificial joint become the joint that can generate adequate Joint-Electricity in daily living alike a healthy natural joint does, and consequently achieve the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the said joint and its related muscles. In one embodiment, the said placing and securing of the said artificial cartilage to the said artificial joint is during the implanting surgery for implanting the said artificial joint into the target subject. However, the method of placing and securing the said artificial cartilage into the said artificial joint during the implanting surgery for implanting the said artificial joint is part of the said surgery, and is not included in the present invention. Further, in another embodiment, the said artificial cartilage of the present invention also can be placed into and secured to the artificial joint before the said implanting surgery of the said artificial joint, and afterwards, it, together with the said artificial joint, can be implanted into the target indication-subject. The methods of placing and securing the said artificial cartilage of the present invention to the artificial joint before the implanting surgery of the said artificial joint include adhesive bonding, coating (only suitable for the embodiments of the present invention those excluding those stated in [0024] those have included supporting fibers those made of the piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention), and other methods. For example, using the appropriate adhesive bonding material (the type that has included the nanostructured material is one of the examples) that suitable for both the bottom of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention and joint-surface of the said artificial joint to directly bond the said artificial cartilage to the joint-surface of the said artificial joint. For the embodiments of the present invention excluding those stated in [0024] those have included supporting fibers those made of piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention can also use the following methods: coating the material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention to the said joint-surface of the said artificial joint in the shape of the said artificial cartilage, and other methods. After the said artificial joint has been implanted by a proper surgery, it can continuously generate Joint-Electricity alike natural healthy joint does due to it has equipped the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, and which can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said artificial joint in its effective range. Yet, the method that implanting the said artificial joint to the target subject is a surgical method, and is not included in the present invention.

[0029] The embodiments of the artificial cartilage of the present invention those stated in [0024] those have included supporting fibers those made of piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention also can be placed into an artificial joint (either during the implanting surgery of the said artificial joint, or, in previous of the said implanting surgery and afterward, together with the said artificial joint, being implanted into the target indication-subject) in order to make the said artificial joint become the joint that can generate adequate Joint-Electricity in daily living alike a healthy natural joint does, and consequently achieve the effect of supplementing the wanted Joint-Electricity to the joint-structure tissues of the said artificial joint and its related muscles. In one embodiment, the said placing and securing of the said artificial cartilage to the said artificial joint is during the implanting surgery that for implanting the said artificial joint into the target subject. However, the method of placing and securing the said artificial cartilage into the said artificial joint during the said implanting surgery is part of the said surgery, and all surgeries are excluded from the present invention. In another embodiment, the said artificial cartilage of the present invention also can be placed into and secured to the artificial joint before the said implanting surgery of the artificial joint, and afterwards, it, together with the said artificial joint, can be implanted into the target indication-subject. The said placing and securing methods before the implanting surgery of the artificial joint include adhesive bonding, and the other methods excluding coating. For example, using the appropriate adhesive bonding material (the type that has included the nanostructured material is one of the examples) that suitable for both the bottom of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention and joint-surface of the said artificial joint to directly bond the said artificial cartilage to the joint-surface of the said artificial joint. After the said artificial joint has been implanted by a proper surgery, it can continuously generate Joint-Electricity alike natural healthy joint does due to it has equipped the said artificial cartilage of the present invention, and which can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said artificial joint in its effective range. Yet, the method that implanting the said artificial joint to the target subject is a surgical method, and is not included in the present invention.

[0030] THE ADVANTAGES OF THE ARTIFICIAL CARTILAGE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION over those of the prior art and those without using the present invention, including at least the followings. The artificial cartilage of the present invention has specialty in that it is made of proper piezoelectric material, which is defined in with large enough range of piezoelectric reactivity that can ensure the said artificial cartilage, after the proper implanting surgery for placing it into the target indication-joint (nature joint or artificial joint), can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range, thus, ensures continuously generating Joint-Electricity. Comparing to that without using the said artificial cartilage, usage of the artificial cartilage of present invention can increase the nurturing on the joint-structure tissues (capsule, ligament, and tendons) of the said joint and its related muscles, thus, achieves the effect of remarkably reducing the pains, increasing muscular strength, and improving the voluntary motor abilities. Besides, through individualized designing the shape of the said artificial cartilage to be appropriate to solving the individualized problems related to defect or lack in cartilage, can prevent it from disturbing the correct bony alignment and joint structure those obtained by the proper surgery for implanting it. This can contribute to ensure it can be subjected to the dynamic force within the said joint in its effective range that obtained by the proper piezoelectric material of the said artificial cartilage of the present invention in order for ensuring the said artificial cartilage can be alike the natural healthy cartilage continuously generating Joint-Electricity during the activities of daily living. Therefore, using the artificial cartilage of the present invention in the indication-joints of the prior art, or, adding the artificial cartilage of the present invention to any artificial joint (which develops to nowadays, still lack of artificial cartilage) can obtain the effect of helping the said joints keeping long term health, promoting their motor functions, preventing the pains that occurred after the similar surgery that using the artificial cartilage of the prior art, remarkably reducing the usage of painkillers, and faster recovering their voluntary motion abilities, prolonging the use life of the said artificial cartilage (and artificial joint), and preventing repeated surgeries. Thus, the artificial cartilage of the present invention is improved and more effective than the artificial cartilage and so-called biomimetic cartilage in the prior art.

[0031] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.